Makiwara pads?

I am currently boxing training, and have no room / total structural unsuitability in home / etc. to hang a bag.

some years ago I remember having a jiu jitsu class, where they had this canvas pad dealy attached to the wall you could hit... i THINK it might have been called a makiwara pad but not sure...?

anyway, does anyone know anymore about them - history / origin etc...
plus if they're really any use (i wonder about potential for injury,as, in essence, you're hitting a padded bit of wall)?
how do you use it correctly to improve punching / striking etc?

i gather they're probably readily/cheaply available, but just looking for tips on correct use / training tips / installing / and whether anyone either swears by them, or thinks they're useless and would advise against?

Makiwara are basically a post in the ground (or secured to a board that you stand on) that you whacked to condition your hands. Kiai. They also taught (allegedly) proper technique becuase if you didn't hit them correctly, you'd mess up your wrist/knuckles/karma.
I've seen makiwara pad, but I'm pretty sure they're based on the same premise (t3h suxor)

Seriously, there isn't a solid wall in these houses - its like they're made out of playing cards, so i wouldn't hang anything... free standing bags are pretty pricey - not sure if its a worthwhile investment.
those wall bags look interesting but i gather its for what, hand conditioning?
the thing i saw years ago was like a canvas rectangular brick stuck up on the wall - definitely not a stick... i thought if i got one i could stick it to the outer wall, which, surprisingly, is actually made out of bricks, and hit it occasionally....
thanks for the info, i'll keep my eyes peeled.
until then my older brother will have to pose as target. he loves it, really.

makiwara exist because the japanese weren't smart enough to invent the heavy bag. that's all. they are wholly obsolete. their only saving grace is that they aren't as stupid as what the chinese came up with.

Mitts would be better if you have space in your house to use them and someone to hold them. Freestanding bags are ok, but I don't like using them for striking since I got tired to having pick them up each time I knocked them over.

My freestanding bags pretty much got demoted for hitting them with my tonfa's or escrima sticks.

makiwara exist because the japanese weren't smart enough to invent the heavy bag. that's all. they are wholly obsolete. their only saving grace is that they aren't as stupid as what the chinese came up with.

I wouldn't say the Makiwara is exactly the same thing as a heavy bag, as it's more of a bare knuckle conditioining thing.

I however HATE hitting a makiwara board as my delicate beautiful hands are far to precious to me.

I take a phonebook and completley cover it in duct tape. A little easier on your hands but you can hit very hard and as far as bare knuckle conditioning, it works pretty well. My instructor taught me that and being poor anything homemade is for me.

Mitts would be better if you have space in your house to use them and someone to hold them. Freestanding bags are ok, but I don't like using them for striking since I got tired to having pick them up each time I knocked them over.

My freestanding bags pretty much got demoted for hitting them with my tonfa's or escrima sticks.

haha, fill that bad boy up with sand, and tuck it in a corner, or up against a wall. lol thats waht i do